Italy beat Wales at League World Cup

Italy followed up on their shock warm-up victory over England with a convincing 32-16 win over Wales in their Rugby League World Cup match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Man-of-the-match Josh Mantellato scored a hat-trick of tries, Aiden Guerra a brace, and Chris Centrone and Mark Minichiello bagged one apiece as the Welsh defence was breached time and time again in the cross-pool clash.

The result leaves the Azzurri, boasting Australians of Italian heritage such as captain and former Kangaroo full-back Anthony Minichiello, full of confidence ahead of their Pool C fixtures against Scotland and Tonga.

Ben Evans, Rhodri Lloyd and Eliot Kear all crossed the whitewash for the home side, who now face the Cook Islands and the United States in Pool D.